Realtors say con artists find a foreclosure, take down the sign and have an unlicensed locksmith change the locks.
They then rent the home and take off with the money.
They find people to rent using classified ads online, and then make them pay first and last month's rent.
Realtors say some of the scammers have been making the renters fill out an application and get their social security number, putting them at higher risk for identity theft as well.